Cross Country & Track

Four-time All-American missed two years with injuries

By Brian Howell

BuffZone.com Writer

Posted:
06/10/2014 10:11:55 AM MDT

Joe Bosshard started his career at Colorado with back-to-back All-American seasons in cross country and track. Then his career was derailed for two years because of torn labrums in both his hips. With a sixth year of eligibility, Bosshard is back and headed to the NCAA championships in the 10,000 this week. (CU sports information / Courtesy photo)

There were days when Joe Bosshard wondered why he was putting himself through the pain and struggle.

During his early years at Colorado, Bosshard was a two-time All-American in cross country and a two-time All-American in track and field.

Then, he spent two years battling major injuries to both hips, putting his running future in question.

"You just have to fight those days that you want to be done with it," he said. "I think I could have very easily been done with it and I don't think anyone would have questioned it. Most people would say that's fine. Because of the early success I had at CU, I felt like there was a lot more there."

This spring, Bosshard proved that there was, indeed, a lot more there. Granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA, Bosshard has made the most of it, and on Wednesday night in Eugene, Ore., he will compete in the men's 10,000 meters at the NCAA championships.

"It's remarkable unless you know him," CU head coach Mark Wetmore said of Bosshard's comeback. "I never hesitated to count him back. I knew he'd be back."

It was during the cross country nationals in 2011 that Bosshard first discovered there was a problem. He placed 24th to earn All-American honors for the second time, but something wasn't right.

"I really struggled at that nationals (meet)," he said. "I knew something was wrong and I wasn't able to walk for a couple of weeks after that."

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Although it took a while to diagnose, he said, doctors discovered that he tore the labrums in both hips. The head of his femurs weren't smooth, so "every time I was running, I was basically rubbing the labrum and eventually that just completely tore."

Because of that, doctors had to not only repair the labrum, but also reshape his femur heads to make them smooth.

The process, which included two surgeries, countless hours of grueling rehab, and other minor injuries, forced him to skip his entire 2012 and 2013 seasons for track and cross country.

"It was a solid two years and close to a year of pretty much no running at all," he said. "It was a long, long process to come back from and there were some injuries along the way. It definitely took a long time. It really took until this season for me to feel like I was able to compete at the level I was accustomed to before the surgeries."

During those two years, Bosshard had moments where he questioned whether he could come back. Then, he'd get a jolt of confidence.

"Just when he needed it, he would have a fast run or a decent session and his leg would feel well the next day," Wetmore said.

That kept Bosshard going, but even this season hasn't been without struggle.

A small setback popped up this spring, forcing him into several weeks without much running.

"I was starting to get to the point where I was ready to call the season and it wasn't going to happen," he said.

Six weeks ago, however, Bosshard's health began to improve, and he's felt great ever since.

"I'm ready to go. I'm fine," he said.

He admits his fitness level isn't where he'd like it to be, but he's healthy and confident going into nationals. Last month, he was third at the Pac-12 championships (29:26.25) and then sixth at the NCAA preliminaries (29:34.49).

"I think I can run a better race than I did at (prelims) and at conference," he said. "That would be the best case."

To even be in Eugene this week is quite an accomplishment, though, and one that Bosshard doesn't take lightly.

"I couldn't have scripted it the way that it's gone," he said of his career, "and I certainly wish it hadn't gone the way that it did, but it happens. It's been a good career, but certainly not without frustration.

"This whole year was all about getting back to that feeling of knowing I can compete at a high level. While I'm disappointed that I might not be at the best fitness level, I'm extremely thrilled that I feel like I've completed the comeback to some degree and that I was able to put the major injuries behind me."

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